3 colt python

3 Colt Python - I find there is very little inherent heat in a gun, but this year's relaunched Colt Python 3-inch has just that. I don't mean the heat of burning smokeless gunpowder - I mean the actual heat you feel when you pick it up. When you actually come across a temperature gun, it's overwhelming. That's exactly how I felt the first time I held the Python's walnut handle in my hand.

I'm not a big fan of revolvers in general. I used and carried a lot of them here in Alaska - even shot a few bears with them - but found the revolvers to be bulky. However, when I first picked up Colt's newest Python model: the Python 3-inch, I couldn't resist the snake gun's magic. My eyes see guns as tools, but as I turn that shiny new revolver in my hand, I can't help but feel like I'm holding something special, carefully wiping away the imprints of any flaws and turning it, safely back into the gun . case.

3 Colt Python

The Colt Python relaunch is old news for 2022, but the 3-inch model hasn't returned to production until now. This short-barreled version of the .357 Magnum revolver promises to capture the look, feel and spirit of the original in a sturdier frame. There's probably no harder expectation to meet than a classic, and there's a lot to look forward to with this new Colt.

First Look: Colt Python

I have handled and tested many firearms and my first impressions are usually tempered. But my initial impression of the new Python 3” is that it is an excellent production revolver. It's simple, clean and feels great with the perfectly fitting walnut handle. Everything about this new Python speaks of precision and quality. I don't have a raw Python to compare it to, but my Ruger GP100 .357 Magnum has served me well and is a quality revolver and a good reference point.

The size, finish and attention to detail of the new Python 3 inch is outstanding. Cylinder lock action and cylinder rocker are very smooth, with satisfactory tolerances when locked. The narrowest band of light is visible between the barrel and the cylinder, with the cylinder having only a minimal horizontal gap. When the trigger is pulled and the hammer is down - in the fully locked position - there is no noticeable play in the cylinder. I have seen brand new revolvers with so much cylinder clearance that I am afraid to fire them. Even my Ruger GP100 has noticeable play in the cylinder when fully locked.

Almost every part of the Python 3-inch is tighter and runs smoother than the new parts on my GP100. My GP100 has seen heavy use and many laps over the years but is in excellent condition. With a beautiful bend at the end of the ejector rod, the joint between the top of the faucet and the frame is very tight - creating an almost invisible joint when closed. Other seams in the frame are similarly placed.

The fit and finish of the python is excellent. The seams between the frame and the crane are very narrow. Tyler Freer

Colt Python 3\

The new Python 3 in is neither completely new nor complicated. It has the same lines and other design features of the original Python that shooters love, including full-length lower lugs and a vented barrel top band. The bezel follows the same shape but is stainless steel. Colt says they managed to increase the amount of steel in the frame by 30 percent to strengthen it, especially under the wing mirrors.

As the name suggests, the barrel is 3 inches long and has a distinctly recessed crown. Like other Python models, the revolver can be used as both double-action and single-action, and uses a transfer rod system. Common in modern revolvers, the transfer rod allows the hammer to contact the firing pin but drops when the trigger is released. This allowed the revolver to be carried with a full cylinder without fear of a blow to the hammer causing an accidental discharge.

The new Python 3" includes a fully adjustable rear sight with windage and elevation screws and a windage lock screw. Although chambered in the .357 Magnum cartridge, it is also perfectly compatible with the .38 Special cartridge. If you find that the rear reticle is missing required height travel range, you can replace the orange cover with another height.

Python 3" has clear recessed crown and replaceable front sight at muzzle. Tyler Freer

Review] Colt Python: Truly The Best Revolver?

Mystique and material appeal can only take a gun so far, what really matters about the Python 3" is its functionality and shooting performance. I don't need a $1400 gun just to look at it - the gun has to carry its weight. In that range, I compare the Python 3" side by side with my trusty GP100. I fired 200 rounds of 158 grain Black Mountain JHP ammo and a 50 round box of Winchester .38 Specialty FMJ ammo.

The Python 3" trigger is excellent. On a double-action pull, the trigger weight is slightly more than what my Lyman gauge registers. However, it broke with a single pull of 5 lb 7 oz when the hammer was cocked. My trigger for single action the GP100 broke at 4 lbs 15 oz, but the Colt's double-action trigger pulls smoother than my Ruger. The gross weight of a double-action can be heavy, but the Colt's trigger-pull cycle is very smooth and has solid resistance of breaking. My GP100's trigger pull cycle is nowhere near even: it starts stiff, smooth, then stiffens again before breaking. In a single action, the Python 3's trigger pull is a sharp break with barely a creep.

The recoil of the short-barreled Python is noticeable at full power with a .357 Magnum load. It's a bit awkward to hold with both hands, but it's manageable. What I found most uncomfortable was the trigger finger tip. When you shoot, they push back into the thumb pad of my assist hand. Recoil management is one area where my GP100 is ahead of the Python. It has a longer 4.2 inch barrel with a molded rubber grip for a more comfortable grip. The Python's recoil appears to manifest in an inverted direction, while the GP100 directs the recoil back into the arm. With a little practice, I was able to easily control the Python during rapid continuous fire, and when using the .38 Special load, it was an absolute joy to shoot.

The Colt Python 3" rear sight is adjustable for windage and elevation and has a small screw for setting windage. Tyler Freer

Artv: Colt's New Python

I didn't expect the Python 3" to be a bullseye revolver, but I don't think the accuracy is bad with such a short barrel. At the 50 ft. hold position, I averaged 1.8" 6 rounds with the Black Hills load. This is perfectly adequate for a defensive handgun and has no problem sustaining hits in Zone A on the USPSA target surface at 50 feet. The smoothness of the gun's double-action operation certainly contributes to the accuracy of rapid fire at close range. Despite the thunderous muzzle flash and muzzle flip, I averaged 5 out of 6 rounds at 15 feet in the A zone while pulling the trigger as fast as I could.

I haven't been gentle with the Python, and after 250 rounds the only noticeable difference in use and function is carbon buildup in the cylinders. This slows down the loading and unloading process a bit. Expect some breakaway movement after so many shots - especially when everything starts out so tight - I was surprised that the only noticeable difference I noticed was play in the top rod when rotating the cylinder in swing Slight increase in gap - out. I only mention it because I had to find something. The cylinders still turn quietly and the jack fits the frame as tight as when I first wiped the oil from the factory packing.

The fitment and finish of the new Python 3" pistol is ideal for a production pistol. Cylinder action, loading and ejection, and trigger pull and hammer action are smooth. This is a truly beautiful revolver and workhorse.

I would like to see an easier single action trigger pull. My GP100 should not beat this gun in that category. Recoil is more difficult to control than a rubber grip revolver. If you want that grip, it comes with the Territory.

Colt 357 Magnum Hi Res Stock Photography And Images

The Python 3 pistol is expensive, but exhibits superior quality and craftsmanship compared to similarly priced pistols. My recent purchase of the Sig Sauer P320 AXG Pro is a decent gun for a comparable price, but the Python pistol has something extra. It is an intangible quality that is greater than the sum of its parts. If you want to give your kids a revolver, you can't go wrong with this one.

Tyler Friel is a staff writer for Outdoor Living. Lives in Fairbanks, Alaska

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